Liquid-dispensing apparatus.



E. ZAHIVI.

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 22. m5. RENEwED IuNE 5.19m.

Patented July 1G, 1918.

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EDWARD ZAHM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.l

LIQUID-DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Specification cf Letters Patent.

Application led January 22, 1915, Serial No. 3,709. Renewed .Tune 5, 1918. Serial No. 238,393.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, EDWARD ZAHM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to an apparatus for serving or dispensing liquids containing gas, such as beer, although the same may also be used for dispensing .other liquids.

It is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus for this purpose iny which a constant fluid pressure is maintained upon the liquid in the dispensing tank regardless of any fluctuation of the height of the liquid in the same and also regardless of the difference in elevation betweenthe supply barrel and the dispensing tank for the purpose of preventing undue foaming of' the beer, whereby the gas is uniformly retained the entire-mass of beer at all times, so that no part of the same is flat, it being the further object of this invention to accomplish this result without reducing the pressure upon the beer while changing the tapping connectionsfrom an empty supply barrel to a full supply barrel and also to cause a signal to be given when the supply of beer is exhausted and requires replenishing.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectlonal elevation of a beery dispensing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the dispensing tank or chamber and the parts associated therewith. Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken in the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2. f

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts-throughout the several views.

1, 2 represent two barrels or containers beer which are adapted to hold a supply of or other liquid containing gas as well as liquids containing no gas and which are usually arranged in thecellar of the building or other place which is lower than that where the liquid is to be dispensed. 3 represents a' dispensing or serving tank vor chamber arranged at a higher elevation than the su'pplybarrels, for instance, behind a baror serving stand 4: whichisrarranged inA a room on the ground floor of the building. A fluid pressure is produced on top of the liquid in the supply barrels for the purpose of forcing it out of the same into the diswith a main transfer 10 opening into the upper end of the dispensing chamber lor tank so that the liquid expelled from one or the other of the supply barrels entersl the dispensing tank at the upper end thereof. The branch transfer pipes l8, 9 are provided, respectively, with valves 11,12, whereby either one or the other of thev supply barrels may be connected with the dispensing tank, thereby permitting of cutting oif an empty barrel from the dispensing system and cutting in a full barrel and thereby enabling the serving of the liquid to proceed without interruption. The dispensing tank is preferably arranged in a box 13 containing ice which surroundsthe dispensingl tank for the purpose of keeping the contents thereof cool, and the liquid is withdrawn from the lower end of this tank by one or more dispensing or serving pipes leading to valves under the control of the attendant. As shown in the drawings, two of such pipes 14, 15 extend from the lower end of the dispensing tank upwardly to different places along the top or table of the bar and provided respectively with serving V faucets, valves or spigots 16, 17, so that either one or two bar tenders can draw beer or a similar liquid from the dispensing tank at the-same time.

My improvements which are added to the parts of the liquid dispensing system just described afor the purpose of maintaining a substantially uniform pressure on the liquid and avoiding undue foaming orpflattening of the same and also to give a warning signal in case the supply of beer is exhausted is constructed as follows:

18 represents a cylindrical wall rising fremthe top or head l19 which is removably dished dome engaging its marginal part against the edge of the diaphragm and forming with the latter a relief or signal chamber 23. The edge of the diaphragm is secured between the upper edge of the wall 18 v and the lower edge of the dome by screws 24,

as shown in Fig. 2, or by any other suitable means so that leakage through the joint between the diaphragm, wall and dome is prevented.

2 5 represents a boss projecting downwardly from the under side of the upper tank head preferably on the central part thereof and provided with a passage or lport which preferably comprises a vertical lower `part 26 opening into the tank and terminating at its lower end in a valve seat 28, and two upper inclined parts 27 diverging upwardly from the upper end of the vertical lower part and opening into the controlling chamber on opposite` sides of an upwardly projecting boss 29 arranged centrally on the upper side of the upper tank head 22.

30 represents a controlling valve preferably of spherical form which is adapted to move vertically toward and from the valve seat 28 for the vpurpose of closing or opening the passage or port 26, 27 leading. from the upper part of the dispensing tank to the controlling chamber. The movement of the controlling valve for opening or closing the controlling passage 26, 27 is eected by the rise and fall of the liquid.level in the dispensing tank for which purpose a float or buoyant member 31 is arranged in the dispensing tank and connected on its upper side with the lower side of the controlling valve by means of a vertical valve stem 32. As the liquid level in the dispensin tank rises above a certain level the float is e evated and causes the controlling valve to be pressed against its companion seat 28 so that the passage26, 27 is closed and when the liquid level in this tank drops belowa certain point or elevation the float drops and carries the controlling valve downwardly away from its seat, so that the controlling passage is opened and communication is established .between the upper end of the dispensing tank and the controlling chamber. lThe controlling valve and float are"guided in their-vertical movements preferably, by means of a cage comprising a plurality of upright supporting bars 33 arranged on opposite sides of the valve stem 32, a supporting ring 34 a'rranged atthe upper end of these bars and having a screw connection 'with-'the lower end ofthe lower boss 25 and a pluralit of zeross bars 35 connecting., the uprightv ars and provided centrally with openings in which the valve stem 32 is guided in its vertical movements. A

When the controlling valve is lowered by the dropping of the float due to a lowering of the liquid level in the dispensing tank and the upper end of the latter is placed in communication with the-controlling chamber the. fluid pressure in the latter rises to that in the dispensing tank. This communication between the dispensing tank and the controlling chamber has no effect on the operation of the apparatus up to a predetermined pressure but if the pressure in the controlling chamber should exceed a predetermined limit then the diaphragm will be -r,escaplng pressure fluid being preferably,A

though not necessarily, used for operating a signal. This abnormally high pressure in the controlling chamber and dispensing tank j occurs when the barrel which supplies the liquid is exhausted and the hydrostatichead of the liquid in the piping between the supply barrel and the dispensing tank has been removed so that now the full pressure of the fluid supplied to the respective supply barrel enters the dispensing tank and controlling chamber instead of being reduced by the resistance which is offered by the hydrostatic-head in the transfer piping e-X- tending from the supply barrel to the dispensing tank. The signal thus given serves as a warning to the attendant that a new or` full barrel of beer must be connected with the dispensing system. In its preferred form this signal consists of a whistle 36 which is mounted on the dome and communicates with the interior of the relief chamber and a valve mechanism is provided whereby communication is established between the controlling chamber and the relief chamber cured centrally to the diaphragm and having .its lower part projecting downwardly from the underside of the diaphragm and terminating at its 'lower end in a valve face 38. The latter is adapted to move toward and from a packing 39 arranged oh the upper end of the boss 29 and forming a valve seat for said relief valve. This packing may be secured against the upper end of this .boss 29 in any suitable manner but preferably by a retaining sleeve 40 having a screw connection with this boss and provided with an inwardly projecting flange 4l forming an internal shoulder which bears against the upper side ofthe valve packing and also with will not be an annular row of upwardly projecting guide lugs 42 which surround the lower end of the valve and form a guide for the latter in its movement toward and from its companion valve seat. The upper end of the Valve projects upwardly from the diaphragm and is guided in a collar 43 formed centrally on the upper side of the dome. 44 represents a relief passage arranged in the relief valve and opening at its lower end in the face of the valve while its upper end opens laterally through this -valve into the relief chamber. So long as the face of the relief valve bears against the seat 39 communica tion between the controlling chamber and the relief chamber is cut off and the whistle sounded, but when the` diaphragm is raised and the relief valve is lifted fr'om its seat then the fluid under pressure inv pass upwardly through the relief passage 44 into the relief chamber and then through the whistle into the outer atmosphere so that an audible signal is given. Means are provided for yieldingly resisting the upward movement of the diaphragm and permit of varying the degree of this resistance and therefore enable the time of opening of the relief valve to be set accordingly to a predetermined pressure. `In its preferred form this adjustable resistance means comprises a supporting tube 45 secured at its lower end tothe collar 43 of the dome and provided -at its upper end wit-h an adjusting screw 46 projecting downwardly into this tube, and a tension spring 47 arranged within the supporting tube and bearing at its upper and lower ends through the medium and vlower disk 48, 49 against the lower end of the adjusting screw and the upper end of the relief valve. By adjusting the screw 46 up or down the tension of the spring 47 may be varied in accordance with the predetermined pressure under which the diaphragm should yield to the upward pressure of .the fluid in the controlling chamber for opening a. relief valve.

Assuming that a fluid pressure of, say 15 pounds, is introducedy into the respective supply barrel from which the liquidy is being withdrawn and that the frictional and hydrostatic resistance of the .liquid contained inthe piping leading from the supply barrel to the dispensing chamberv yor tank is equivalent to 9 pounds there would be a fluid pressurefexerted upon the liquidV in the dispensing tank an'iounting to 6 I,/pounds under the normal operationl of thel v apparatus.

The tension of the means which resist the upward movement of the diaphragml and the opening of the relief valve under these circumstances ,justed that `this diaphragm will only ylifted and the relief valve opened when the controlling chamber willl the pressure in the dispensing tank and the controlling chamber exceed this normal pressure of 6 pounds. For this purpose it will be assumed that the tension spring is so set that this relief valve will open bel liquid enters the dispensing tank 3 and the pressure at which the relief valve 38 is set compensates for any compression of gas in the upper1 part o the tank 3 and anyv fluctuation 1n the counter-pressure in the tank which controls the flow of liquid into the tank 3 through the pipe 10 between the time that the.

the tank. 3 upon opening a tap and the "time the outiiow is arrested upon closing the tap. Under these circumstances the liquid will be discharged from the dispensf ing tank under a pressure of say 6 pounds through one or both of the serving spigots when the latter are opened and the liquid in the dispensing tank will be constantly replenished from the supply barrel by reason of the Huid pressure of 15 pounds againstthe contents in the latter. Normally when the liquid is only withdrawn from the dispensing tank at a moderate rate, for instance when only one of the spigots is in use at a time and at comparatively long intervals the transfer of the liquid from the supply barrel to the dispensing tank will keep pacewith the amount of liquid withdrawn from the latter through the spigot, so that the dispensing tank will remain nearly full and the level of the liquid will remain normally at such a height that the float will be caused to hold the controlling valve in its closed position and cut oil' communication between the dispensing l,tank and the controlling chamber. Vhen, however, the liquid is withdrawn from the dispensing tank more rapidly than the rateat which the same is replenished from the supply barrel which is liable to occur when one spigot is employed very frequently or more than one spigot is used at the same time, then the float will drop below its normal position in response to the lowering of the level of the liquid in the dispensing tank below thenormal and thereby open the controlling valve andV placing-the dispensing tank in communication with the controlling chamber 'and at the same time the pressure in the dispensing vtank will drop somewhat, say

`more than 1 pound, so that the relief valve liquid flows out ofv operation of the apparatus inasmuch as the entering of the pressure fiuid from the dispensing tank intoV the controlling chamber under a pressure of less than 5 pounds Will not be able to raise the diaphragm and the relief valve Will remain closed inasmuch as the tension spring has been set so that it will only yield under a pressure of 5 pounds or more lunder which circumstances there would 'be a differential of 1 pound to allow the fluctuations betveen the normal pressure of 6 pounds in the dispensing tank and the tension of 5 pounds at Which the relief valve 38 is held shut by its spring.

Y When all the beer possible has been discharged from the supply barrel into the dlspensingtank and the transfer pipe between the barrel and tankhas also lbeen emptied so that the hydrostatic-head of the liquld in the. transfer pipe no' longer op* poses the pressure of 15 pounds in the sulpply barrel then this full pressure Witht exception of a slight frictional resistance "in the transfer pipes,v Will enter the upper end of the dispensing tank and also pass from the latter into the controlling chamber when the liquid level in the' latter drops to .such an extent that the float opens the controlling valve. This abnormal pressure being incex cess of the '5 poundsresistance offered by the tension spring 47 Will cause the diaphragm to be lifted and the relief valve to be opened so that this pressure fluid now passes through the passage or port in the relief valve into the relief chamberl and out through the Whistle so that the latter is sounded and the attendant is' notified that a nevvbarrel of beer must be tapped. The attendant now shuts off the valve of that branch transfer pipe communicating With. the empty supply barrel and opens the valve of the branch transfer pipe leading to the full supply barrel. When this occurs the pressure of the fluid from the pipe 5 upon the liquid in the last mentioned barrel Will force this liquid through the last mentioned branch transfer pipe into the dispensing tank and when this transfer'pipehas been filled with liquid andthe hydrostatic head or resistance of the liquid therein again opposes this pressure of the fluid in the l main pressure pipe 5' then the fluid lpressure in the dispensing tank is again reduced say below the normal pressure of 5 pounds, thereby permitting vthe-tension spring Which exerts av pressure of 5 vpounds to again close the relief valveand stop the further escape of pressure flu-id through the Whistle and yarresting the sounding of the latter. After the relief. valve has been' thus closed by the pressure of its spring the continued in-flovv causes the dispensing tank 3 to gradually become filled so that the liquid eventually lifts the float 30 and closes the float valve 31. After the float valve is closed the liquid continues -to flow into the tank 3 until a pressure of 6 pounds has been built up in the same Which operates to stop the further flow of liquid from the container or barrel l or 2 into the tank or receiver 3.

After this transfer of the connections of the dispensing tank from the empty supply barrel to the full barrel the pressure upon the liquid in the dispensing tank is maintained at 6 pounds. It is therefore impossible for the pressure in the dispensing tank to drop so low that the beer would be transferred in a foalny condition from the supply barrel to the dispensing tank. If the pressure fluid in the dispensing tank Were permitted to escape to the atmosphere so that but little or no pressure remained in the dispensing tank to oppose the entrance of the liquid, into this tank after transferring the connections of the tank from one barrel to another the rush of the liquid under pressure from the supply barrel into the discharge tank which would not be under a pressure sufficient to maintain ,the gases in solution, Would cause liberation of the gases and result in a large quantity of flat liquid being dispensed be-l fore a normal condition is again established. This objection is avoided in this dispensing apparatus inasmuch as sufficient pressure is maintained on the beer in the dispensing than the ultimate effect of the pressure employed for forcing the liquid from the supply barrel or original container, minus the 1 y hydrostatic-head and frictional resistance representedy by the liquid in the piping extending from the supply barrel to the dispensing tank.

I claim as my invention: Y 1,. A liquid.- dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having a liquidvinlet and a liquid loutlet, a controlling chamber cony nected with said tank by a controlling passage and vhavingv a diaphragm exposed to the I pressure in said chamber and a vent passage, a controlling valve .adapted to open and' close said controlling passage, v a float arranged in said tank and operating saidfv controlling valve, and a valve which opens and closes said vent passage and which is operated by said diaphragm. p,

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having a liquidinlet and a liquid V130-- i 35 iii Said outlet, a controlling chamber connected with said tank by a controlling passage and having a diaphragmexposed tol the pressure in said chamber and a vent passage, aV controlling valve adapted to open and close said controlling. passage, a oat arranged in said tank and operating said controlling valve, a valve which opens and closes said vent passage and which is operated by said diaphragm, and a whistle which is blown by the Huid escaping from said relief passage.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a controlling chamber connected with said tank and having a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in said chamber and a vent passage, a controlling valve adapted to, open and close said controlling passage, a float arranged in said tank and operating said controlling valve, a valve which opens and closes said vent passage and which is operated by said diaphragm, and la spring for yieldingly moving said diaphragm in a d1- rection for closing said relief valve.

4:. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a controlling chamber connected with said tank by a controlling passage and having a diaphragm exposed to the pressure in said chamber and a vent passage, a controlling valve adapted to open and close said controlling passage, a float arranged tank and operating said controlling valve, a valve which opens and closes said Vvent passage and which is operated by said diaphragm, a spring for yieldingly moving said diaphragm in a direction for closing 4,0 said relief valve, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring. v

A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a controlling chamber connebted with said tank by a lcontrolling passage diaphragm exposed to the and having a chamber and a vent passage,

pressure insaid la controlling valve adapted to open an close` said controlling passage, a oat arranged in said tank and operating said controlling valve, -a valve which opens and closes said vent ated by said diaphragm, a spring for yieldingly moving said diaphragm in a direction 55 for closing said relief valve, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and ai p whistle which is blown by the Huid escapingv from said relief passage.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising atank having an inlet and an outlet for the liquid, a controlling chamber arranged on sai tank and communicating with the latter by a controlling passage, a float arranged in said tank, a controlling a valve moving with said fioat and opening municating by a controlling passage ling chamber dy on the outer side of said relief chamber passage and which is operv trolling chamber, said controlling and relief chambers being separated by a diaphragm, a relief valve mounted on said vdiaphragm and provided on its inner end with a face movable toward and from a vseatvin the controlling chamber and having a passage leading from said face in the controlling chamber to the relief chamber, and a whistle comwith the relief chamber.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet for the liquid, a controlling chamber arranged on said tank and communicating with the latter' by a controlling passage, a float arranged in said tank, a controlling valve moving with said float and opening and closing said controlling passage, a relief chamber arranged adjacent to `the controlling chamber, said controlling and vrelief chambers being separated by a diaphragm, phragm and provided on its inner end with a face movable toward and from a seat in the controlling chamber and having a passage leading from said face in the controllin chamber to the relief chamber, and a sprin operating on said diaphragm to hold the re ief valve yieldingly against said seat;

8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a tank having an inlet and an outlet for the liquid, a controlling chamber arranged on said ytank and communicating with the latter by ioat arranged in said tank, a Acontrolling valve moving with said float and opening and closing said cOntrOlling'paSSage, a relief chamber arranged adjacent to the conv a relief valve mounted on said diawv a controlling passage, a j

lief chambers being separated by a diaphragm, a relief valve mounted on said diaphragm and provided on its inner end with a face movable toward and from a seat in the controllin sage leading rom said face in the controlto the relief chamber, a guide which-receives the outer end of said relief valve, a. supporting tubel mounted at its inner end on said relief chamber, an adjusting screw arranged on said tube, and a spring interposed between the inner end of the screw and the outer end of said relief valve.

9. A liquid dispensing. apparatus comrising a tank having an inlet and an outlet an inwardly projecting boss containing a controlling passage opening into the tank, a controlling chamberwhich is arranged on the outer side of said tarik and into which said controlling passage opens, an outer boss arranged on theouter side of`the tank within the controlling chamber, a valve seat arranged on said outer boss, a sleeve having a'screw connection with said for the liquid,

chamber and having a pas- 1 outer boss and provided With an internal shoulder bearing against said seat and with a plurality of guide lugs around said seat, a diaphragm subject to the internal fluid pressure with said controlling chamber, and a valve mounted on said diaphragm and having its inner end guided between said lugs and provided with a face movable to- Ward and from said seat and having a relief passage leading from said face to the outer side of said diaphragm.

10. An apparatus for dispensing gas containing liquids Comprising a liquid chamber having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and a gas outlet in its upper part, a

liquid operated valve for the inner part of said gas outlet which is responsive to variations in the level of the liquid in said chamber, and a gas operated relief for the outer part of said gas outlet which is responsive to variations of the gas pressure in said chamber when said liquid operated valve iS open.

Witness my hand this 19th day of January, 1915.

EDWARD ZAHM.

lVitnesses CHARLES A. NAGEL, THEO. L. PoPP. 

